Tracheotomy tube

ABSTRACT

Voice prosthesis for rehabilition of the voices of laryngectomes includes a tracheotomy tube extending through the neck into the trachea. This normally prevents the patient involved from speaking, as the air inhaled and exhaled may flow inwardly and outwardly through the tube. The present invention comprises a tracheotomy tube provided with a simple ball valve enclosed within the outer end of the tube which permits the patient to inhale air through the tube, and to close the tube to air being exhaled so that the air may be exhaled through the patient&#39;&#39;s larnyx, permitting the patient to speak.

United States Patent [191 Swanson TRACHEOTOMY TUBE [76] Inventor: Arthur H. Swanson, 619 S. Cecelia,

Sioux City, Iowa 55106 221 Filed: Dec. 23, 1974- 21 Appl. No.: 535,427

[52] US. Cl. 128/351 [51] Int. Cl. A61M 25/00 [58] Field of Search 3/13; 128/351 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,684 8/1966 Bolton 128/351 3,844,290 10/1974 Birch et al. 128/351 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,207,144 8/1959 France 128/351 Dec. 9, 1975 Primary ExaminerR0nald L. Frinks {57] ABSTRACT Voice prosthesis for rehabilition of the voices of laryngectomes includes a tracheotomy tube extending through the neck into the trachea. This normally prevents the patient involved from speaking, as the air inhaled and exhaled may flow inwardly and outwardly through the tube. The present invention comprises a tracheotomy tube provided with a simple ball valve enclosed within the outer end of the tube which permits the patient to inhale air through the tube, and to close the tube to air being exhaled so that the air may be exhaled through the patients lamyx, permitting the patient to speak.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 3,924,637

AZ? ZQ r Z TRACHEOTOMY TUBE This invention relates to an improvement in Tracheotomy Tube and deals particularly with a simple attachment designed to frictionally fit within the outer end of the tracheotomy tube to provide a one way valve which permits the intake or inhalation of air through the tracheotoiny tube, but which acts as a valve to close the tube during exhalation so that the exhaled air may pass through the patients larynx, permittingthe patient to speak without difficulty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous devices have been produced to help one speak. For example U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,674 issued Dec. 4, 1962 to Capra shows a speech facilitating attachment for a throat tube which includes anelongated conduit connected to the outer end of the tracheotomy tube and having a valve at its lower end resting upon the chest of the patient. While this device provides a one way valve, the device is uncomfortable to wear, and tends to twist the tracheotomy tube upon movement of the body to one side or the other.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,229 issued June 16, 196.4 to Tabor, shows a straight tube extending from the exterior of the neck to the trachea and projecting outwardly from the body. This device also provides a one way valve-atthe outer end of the tube comprising a diaphragm valveof very thin flexible sheeting designed to open when air is inhaled, and to close when air is exhaled fromthe trachea to permit the patient to speak. Howeverythe valve is positioned in forwardly spaced relation tothe body,interferring with the insertion and removal of clothes from the body and providing a rather unsightly projection which will cause pain to the patient in the event it is touched in a manner to cause movement of the portion of the tube extending through the neck. I

U.S.. Pat-No. 3,683,931 issued Aug. 15, 1972 to Thomas et al. shows an attachment for apatient which includes a valve chamber located between two external T connections, one of which may be connected to a supply of treated air. While this device may be useful to a patient in a hospital, the weight of the exterior portions including the'valve would make the structure unwieldy for a patient which is ambulatory.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,127 issued Jan. 24, 1973 to Taube includes a rather complicated mechanism including a flap valve having two connections extending 1 into the body of the patient. It is the applicants purpose to provide an extremely simple attachment which may be applied to tracheotomy tubes which are of common form, and which will be no more prominent than the outer end of the tracheotomy tube itself. This attachment includes a simple one way valve, and may be readily removed and sterilized whenever desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tracheotomy tube of standard form which is inserted in the neck of the patient in the usual manner to terminate just outwardly of the skin so that it is relatively unnoticeable to others. Such tubes are usually provided with a peripheral flange at their outer ends, and are provided with a washer which is inwardly atthe flange to hold the device in proper position. The applicant experienced breathing difficulties, and such a tube was inserted in his neck to permit the inhalation and exhalation of air through the tube. The applicants problem is such that he can exhale through the larynx and mouth but difficulty is experienced in the inhalation of air. Since the insertion of the tracheotomy tube, the ap- 'plicant has found that he is unable to speak unless he closes the outer end of the tracheotomy tube during the speaking process. In order to solve this difficulty, the applicant made an attachment for the outer end of the tracheotomytube which comprises merely a sleeve designed to frictionally fit withinthe cylindrical outer end of the tracheotomy tube, and which is provided with a peripheral flange at its outer end designed to' bear against the flange at the outer end of the tracheotomy tube and to limit the insertion of the attachment. Inwardlyof the external flange the applicant provides a valve seat against which a valve ball may engage. After the ball has been inserted in the tube, a cross member :is provided extendingly diametrically across the inner lect in the tracheotomy tube, particularly when thepatient coughs. By closing the 'tracheotomy'tube during the exhalation of air, most of the mucous deposited in the tube is eliminated. Howeven one oftlie' reasons why' diaphragm valves or triembr'ane'valves of the type used'in most of the previous constructions are not used lies in the fact that such mucous may wellint'e'rfere with the normal operation of a diaphragm valve. On" the other hand, the applicants attachment is made so that the ball is of sufficiently less diameter than the sleeve which supports it so that nothing of this type would normally interfere with the movementiof the ball within the sleeve. Furthermore, inview of the fact that the sleeve frictionally fits within the end of the tube,- the applicants attachment may be removed in its entirety, and may be washed or sterilized as it contains only the sleeve, the ball, and the cross pin, all of which may be made of a material such as stainless steel, silver,'or even certain types of plastic which maybe subjected to sterilizing temperatures. J

An added feature to the present invention resides in the fact that the device is virtually unnoticeable when in place. In view of the fact that the sleeve is frictionally engaged against the flange and sleeve at the outer end of the tube, the only part of the device which is visible is normally the flange at the outer end of the sleeve and the washer. As this washer normally rests flush against the flange at the end of the tube, the device is normally not noticeable when in place. The device is held in place by a ribbon tied about the neck connected to the washer much in the manner shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,684 issued Aug. 2, 1966 to Bolton.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the applicants attachment is useful not only to persons having operations in which the tracheotomy tube is inserted, but also to the numerous persons in which a tracheotomy tube has been inserted. In view of the simplicity of the device, it can produced at an extremely low cost of production as the device, includes a total of three parts. In forming the device, it is only necessary to produce the sleeve having a flange at one end, to drill a retaining hole through the tube diametrically through the inner end of the tube, to insert the valve ball, and to insert a retaining pin to hold the ball in place. This is normally done when the sleeve is produced. Thus the entire device may be produced for a fraction of the cost of most of the devices of the prior art, and are obviously much easier to apply, remove, wash, or to sterilize. As a result, the advantage of the applicants structure over those of the prior art are readily apparent.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the neck of an individual showing in general the location of the tracheotomy tube.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the tracheotomy tube showing the attachment therein.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the attachment itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The trachea tube is indicated in general by the numeral l0, and may be of any suitable or conventional shape. Usually the tubes have a generally cylindrical entrance portion 11 which extends through the neck 12 of the patient and the other end terminates in the trachea 13. The tube preferably includes a slightly beaded lower end 18 so that it will not harm the walls of the trachea. The tube 10 is usually provided with a peripheral flange 14 at its outer end. The tube is surrounded by a washer 15 which encircles the tube adjacent the flange. All of the structure described to this point is conventional, and is of the common type applied when the patient is having a sufficiently difficulty in breathing to warrant the necessary operation.

The invention comprises an attachment A which is best indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The attachment A includes a sleeve 16 which is substantially cylindrical in form, and which is of proper outer diameter to fit frictionally within the cylindrical inner diameter of the end 11 of the tube 10. As shown, the sleeve 16 is provided with a peripheral flange 17 at one end thereof. Inwardly of the flange 17 is provided an in- 4 wardly extending slightly tapered flange 19 which is shaped to provide a seat for the valve ball 20. A cross member 21 may extend diagonally across the sleeve 16 at any desired point from the flange 19 so that the valve ball is limited in its inward movement. Obviously, the closer the cross member 21 is to the flange 19, the lesser distance is provided for the ball 20 to move.

When the attachment A is inserted in the outer end of the tracheotomy tube 10, air may be inhaled through the tube in the normal manner. However, as air is exhaled, it moves the ball 20 against the seat 19 forming a one way valve and preventing the exhalation of air therethrough.

Obviously, the attachment may be readily removed when not needed or desired. In view of the fact that the sleeve 16 fits frictionally within the end of the tube 10, it may be inserted or removed with equal ease. As long as the attachment is in place, it prevents the exhalation of air through the tube 10, but causes no interference with the inhalation of air.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my Tracheotomy Tube, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A voice prosthesis for the rehabilitation of the voices of laryngecgectomees including:

a tracheotomy tube adapted for connection between the outer atmosphere and the trachea, the outer end of the tube adapted to be terminating adjacent the outer surface of the neck and open to atmosphere,

a flange on said tube adapted to engage the outer surface of the neck,

an attachment including a sleeve frictionally fitted into the outer end of the tracheotomy tube,

a flange at one end of said sleeve to limit insertion of said sleeve into said tube,

a ball within said sleeve of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said sleeve,

a valve seat inwardly of said flange on said sleeve against which said ball may seat to prevent the outward flow of air through said tube, and means at the inner end of said sleeve limiting inward movement of said ball within said sleeve when said ball is unseated from said seat. 

1. A voice prosthesis for the rehabilitation of the voices of laryngecgectomees including: a tracheotomy tube adapted for connection between the outer atmosphere and the trachea, the outer end of the tube aDapted to be terminating adjacent the outer surface of the neck and open to atmosphere, a flange on said tube adapted to engage the outer surface of the neck, an attachment including a sleeve frictionally fitted into the outer end of the tracheotomy tube, a flange at one end of said sleeve to limit insertion of said sleeve into said tube, a ball within said sleeve of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said sleeve, a valve seat inwardly of said flange on said sleeve against which said ball may seat to prevent the outward flow of air through said tube, and means at the inner end of said sleeve limiting inward movement of said ball within said sleeve when said ball is unseated from said seat. 